–As 97,000 People Are Vaccinated, 6,000 Complete Second Dose
By Joseph Tumbey, josephtumbey@gmail.com
IPNEWS – Monrovia: As the fight against the deadly COVID-19 intensifies in Liberia, the Minister of Health, Dr. Wilhemina Jallah, in a press conference, has declared that there is vaccine shortage at the moment in country.
Before the shortage, Liberia was administering the AstraZeneca vaccine brought into country through the help of the Covax Facility, including the US Government, WHO, UNICEF, etc.
Dr. Jallah indicated that there was no need to panic and that everyone needs to continually follow the health protocols.
She also disclosed that at the moment there is no need for a lock down. Many people have resented the notion that there might be a lock down as health authorities continue to fight against the virus.
Speaking further, Min. Jallah stated in other to avoid a lock down in the country, she encouraged churches, mosques, marketplaces, and funeral parlors to abide by the health measures and protocols, intended to halt the spread of the virus.
She used the medium to also call on those traveling in and out of Liberia to get retested before 7-10 days ahead of their travel or risk being denied at the airport or any entrance or exit point.
The Health Minister made the disclosure at the Ministry of Information Culture Affairs & Tourism during the regular weekly press conference held in Monrovia on July 8, 2021.
Dr. Jallah, who heads the Incidence Management Team, the lead team combating the virus, disclosed since the government, through the Ministry of Health, started the vaccination of citizens and foreign residents over 97,000 people have been vaccinated across the country with about 6,000 people completing their second dosages.
She maintained the Ministry has carried on the first dose of vaccination of the COVID-19 across the country in the last two weeks that made many Liberians to take the first phase of the vaccination and awaiting the second dose.
“For those who were waiting for the second dose of the vaccine, we had to use the doses to vaccinate more people” she asserted.
She admonished those who have taken their first dose not to be worried as efforts are being made to bring another consignment of vaccines.
The Health Minister further said that additional vaccines are expected to be brought in the country by August 2021.
As of March 2019, to Friday, July 9, Liberia has recorded a total of 5102 confirmed cases, which has unfortunately recorded 144 deaths. On last Friday, 22 new cases were confirmed.
